New face

1. New face

   #1

   By the lake sits a young quiet girl, undistirbed lost in her own thoughts.. She had heard of this quiet resting place from a dear close friend of her's who has long since past away. She lays her head down on the bank of the river weary from the travel. Softly she closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep.

2. New face

   #2

   Unfortuneately, she didn't know that Redwick Undersoor, half-dwarf explorer extraordinaire would pass by this day.
   
   "Ah, a lake. Wonder if there's any fish in it..."
   
   He takes out his old fishing rod, baits it, sits down by a tree and starts fishing. Then he notices the girl.
   
   "Oh, hello there, miss...?"

3. New face

   #3

   As the cool lake water swept over Callista's body she feels a small sharp pain in her foot as if she had been caught by a hooked shaped rock, she tugged her foot as she felt the hook drive deeper into the flesh of her foot, "Ouch" she cried as she tugged harder hoping to pull her foot free, but no such luck, as the water around her began slowly turning a watery red, she looked up and saw the source of the problem the short young man or boy she didnt quite know which, was sat on the bank with his fishing line leading staright to her.

4. New face

   #4

   The shadows in the trees behind the girl and the half-breed start to look more substantial, almost solid, instead of shadowy. The blackness shifted into the shape of a man, which suddenly takes a step forward. The figure is about six feet tall with long black hair, a single silver streak running through it. He is dressed entirely in black leather, an open coat over his shirt and pants. His eyes flash an unnaturally bright blue and seem to take in everything at once. It appeared as though the half-breed had caught someone. This might get interesting.....

5. New face

   #5

   "Uh oh, something BIG is baitin'..."
   
   Redwick pulled with all his might and finally saw what he had catched.
   
   "Great Durin! It must be a mermaid!"

6. New face

   #6

   "Ahhhh, let go, let go, It hurts man" Callista pulled with all her might trying so hard to get back underneath the warm water, but the strength of the half-breed was to strong, she kicked as more blood leacked into the laketurning a more solid red, Callista began to struggle so harshly that the churning of the water had covered her whole body nothing was to be seen, and then it happened a huge whirlpool arrived in the middle of the lake, swirling strongly, and there sat in the middle was Callista, her eyes closed, but still the expression of pain on her face.

7. New face

   #7

   "That's odd...she doesn't have a fish-tail..."
   
   Redwick pulls again to get the struggling girl up on the ground.

8. New face

   #8

   the whirlpool faded and then she dived under the water, she had seemed to have lost alot of her strength, something was happening to her, her feet had turned webbed, and then she began to grow scales on her legs, then they joined, she knew she was half elf, but half mermaid, it was impossible, her legs joined together and the hook which was inserted in her foot suddenly poped out with so much force that it went flying onto the bank, Callista looked at her newly formed tail, and then she felt the last of her strength ebbing away, and she began to sink, under the water, although she had the tail she did not have the ability to breathe under water,

9. New face

   #9

   Redwick flew backwards when the hook suddenly came loose. After getting up from the ground he went back to the lake and looked down. The girl sure looked like a mermaid now, but she seemed to have trouble breathing.
   
   "What the heck is goin' on here?"
   
   Then he decided that whatever was going on, he ought to help the girl. He took a deep breath and jumped into the lake...

10. New face

    #10

    Callista's sight was fading, and fast the time she had been underwater had filled her lungs with the cold feeling of ice she gasped as she once again, was pulled under the water by an invisible hand, she heared a splash from a little way away, she tried with all her might to open her eyes and breathe not neither one worked, she passing by unconstious then counstious, each travel between life and death, pulling her more near to the fearfull fate awaiting her near the bottom of the lake, death.

11. New face

    #11

    Redwick managed to grab the mermaid(?) by her tail and swam with all his might upwards. Something else was holding onto the poor girl and was trying to pull her downwards...
    
    Finally, he got above the water. He swam for the shore...

12. New face

    #12

    Shouts and splashing in the water woke the ancient one. Eyes the color of amber sap opened, unnoticed by the parade of the quick making the racket in the water. The anient one released a long held breath, a century or so held, out in a soft gush. If any heard the sound, they would think nothing more of the wind blowing through the branches of the trees. There was an inkling of mirth as they would be entirely correct.
    
    Unknown to the water maiden, and the half-dwarf, or even the black clad man. an old and thick boughed cypress tree watched them with the strange eyes of the tree-folk.

13. New face

    #13

    The Ancient one was not the only one awoken by the commotion this night. As it were, a halfling - of all things - was sleeping blissfully between the roots of the newly awoken cypress. At the feel of a new wind blowing against the bare of his neck, Hamold shivered and stirred, before opening his eyes lazily. A single blink was given to the darkness, before he arose and brushed down his plain, brown travelling garments. The Halfling gave a long, audible yawn before finally realising that he heard splashing in the lake just on the other side of the tree he had slept against. "Now what seems to be all that commotion, I wonder..." Hamold uttered loudly to himself, and he turned and walked hastily around the tree - just to promptly trip on an exposed root, falling flat on his face. Spluttering up dirt, the halfling rose his head to peer before him, and an amused grin registered on his features as he studied the odd scene in the lake.

14. New face

    #14

    Redwick saw that a tentacle was still gripping the girl by her tail, so he drew his trusty old sword and cut trough it. There was a bubbling, and then the remains of the tentacle disapeared below water again.
    
    Then the half-dwarf spotted the halfling.
    
    "Ahoi there Mr. Halfling! This...uh...girl needs help!"

15. New face

    #15

    Callista's life was rushing before her eyes, she gasped as she was hulled above the water by a stranger, her eyes managed a small slit to see what was going on, the half-breed was trying to pull her to shore, but she felt something was wrong, something deep below her was moving, and if they didn't hurry and get out of the water, they may be lunch for the unknown beast, Callista tried with all her might to tell the half-breed but no words exited her mouth, all she did was gasp as more water went into her mouth and made her lungs feel more like ice every second, she closed her eyes and tried to relax, just to let herself be pulled along, but the unknown creature beneath the water was making her uneasy.

16. New face

    #16

    "Hurm...what does one do to help a mermaid who has almost drowned?"

17. New face

    #17

    there was something dreadfully wrong, all the warmth out of her, had flowed away into the river, she shivered as both her and the half-breed struggled to get to the bank, then she heared it, a low mumbling from below her, five huge tentacles flew from under the water and pulled itself to the surface, it was hideous, it was half-human half-octupus, the human half was holding a massive spear in one hand and the other the giant fist's clenched as it saw one of the bloody messes of one of it's tentacles, it's eyes where the colour of seaweed, it's mouth twisted into a mangling smile, it turned slowly towards Callista and the half-breed, and with a huge amount of agility shot forward.

18. New face

    #18

    Hamold, at the summons of the half-dwarf, promptly stood up. "Well, I'm not well versed in fish-care, but maybe I can do something!" The halfling started towards the two, and at that moment, the tentacular beast erupted from the water. With a faint 'squeak', Hamold scrambled back, "Er... Maybe you can take care of her..." That said, the halfling turned and leapt for the tree which he had been sleeping beneath, shifting to climb up it to get a safe distance from the strange new beast.

19. New face

    #19

    The branch under Hamold gave a wooden groan as the limb shifted. Beneath him, the tall roots of the tree stirred, pulling themselves up from the sodden bank. From his vantage point, he could see the amber eyes in the whorled bark of the tree, each eye the size of both of his fists put together.
    
    Hroom...Hroom
    
    The tree being cleared its throat, long disused in the long sleep of the woodkin. With great effort, the tree lifted itself from it's mooring, its branches swaying about like stiff jointed tentacles, a far cry from the flailing monstrosity in the water.
    
    Hroom...Begone lurker of the...Baar-hroom...Deep
    
    The tree said in a deep, wheezing voice seemingly old, but still resonate and strong. It moved into the edge of the water, several branches curling into bludgeoning, crushing clubs. No wood-kin could stand the presence of a such an abomination so close to it's mooring glade.

20. New face

    #20

    The halfling yelped in surprise as the tree's limbs moved of their own accord, and he nearly slipped off, but managed to wrap his arms around a thick branch as it moved towards him. Hamold peered at those amber eyes with a mixture of confusion and intrigue. His gaze turned to the water, however, as the wood-kin moved to it, and Hamold scrambled up to a seated position on the branch, hanging on tightly.

21. New face

    #21

    Redwick drew his sword again and lashed out at the tentacles.
    
    "I sure hope this ain't an Elder God or somethin', 'cause then we're in deep trouble..."
    
    He managed to cut trough one of the tentacles, but then another one grabbed his sword and threw it away. Redwick backed away from the monstority.
    
    "Ah...just gonna get m'sword back, okay?"
    
    Then he ran for the sword...

22. New face

    #22

    Callista opened her eye's, seeing the beast being attacked by both half-breed and the wood-kin, Callista know with her feet back in place, instead of the tail she scrambled to the bush she had hidden her belonging's, An arrow shot past each of the battler's hitting home, in the eye of the beast, the creature screamed in agony as he pulled the puny arrow from his now bulging socket, blood streamed down it's face, another arrow shot past them and into the chest of the creature, it was Callista, she was know on her feet, shoting her bow and arrow at the beast with hope that they might slow it down so the others could finish it off. another three were sent one getting redirected and hitting the water the other two hitting one in a tentacle, and one in the shoulder of the beast.

23. New face

    #23

    Redwick retrieved his sword and charged at the monster again. He cut of yet another tentacle. Then the beast grabbed him with one of its remaining tentacles and started to back down into the sea again.
    
    Then Redwick sliced its head of.

24. New face

    #24

    Callista groaned as the lifeless body of the creature fell back into the water with a splash, she placed her bow and her arrows next to her and led down on the bank for a rest "thankyou half-breed, i fear i did not catch your name, may i have it know?" Callista looked over to the half-breed, and awaited his name.

25. New face

    #25

    The wood-kin slowed to a stop, it's roots completely covered by the now turbulent water. It looked at the now bloody corpse of the abomination, and felt a small pang of regret. This strange gathering of travelers had done well in defeating the creature with their cruel weapons. It would trouble the waters no more.
    
    The wood-kin turned ponderously, and began the trek back to the mooring where he had stood for over a century without moving beyond in the breath of the wind. The glade had changed much since he had entered the long slumber. The water had changed it's bedding and many of the old trees were gone, some to weather, others to the rare maladies that affect the wooden kingdoms.
    
    The voices carried accents, strange, and unremembered. He could recall the count of winters, 103 winters in the slumber, four generations had passed for the human-kin. Those he knew before the slumber were gone on beyond death, their great grandchildren having reached maturity. Oaks he had known as saplings were made giant with the passage of years, already bearing the centinneal acorns of their slow kind.
    
    Perhaps it would be better to go into the world again, to tend the forests and help the trees grow tall and straight. To protect the sacred places, and perhaps to even find one of the fruiting wood-kin.
    
    There was still the matter of the small fellow clinging in his branches. He shifted his branches until he could see the halfling with both eyes.

26. New face

    #26

    Callista looked towards the mighty tree "the tree's of old, wood-kin is it just you who have awoken this day, or have more woken with you?" Callista got to her feet and walked over to the roots of the tree she was tiny compared to the tree "i beg of you tell me" Callista bowed deeply to the tree and again spoke "you may of known my father kelsta?" asked Callista with pride

27. New face

    #27

    Danu surpressed a laugh. It all looked so interesting from her vantage in the trees, her wings folded tightly to her back. Maybe she should go and join them? She jumps down, breaking her fall with her bird like wings, and saunterd over to them, sabsently flicking her hair over her shoulder. "Now, now. What is going on here? Such a commotion."

28. New face

    #28

    Hroom...I am alone...
    
    The wood-kin said in a voice as deep as the crash of the ocean surf. He moved his large eyes slowly from the elf who spoke to him, to the new arrival having recently decended from the heavens above.
    
    There are...Haar-Hroom...no others...here...
    
    The wood-kin grew silent and still, only the wind, and a lone halfling moving through his branches. He let his mind roll backwards, remembering the passage of seasons, the cold, the warmth, the rain and the dry. Was there a Kelsta in his memory. He recalled a face, elven...a voice strong and wise. A babe in his arms...his daughter...or was it another memory? There were so many.
    
    Tell me...of Kel-Hroom-staaa...so that I might...Hroom...remember

29. New face

    #29

    Danu wasn't sure she liked having an eye nearly the size of her own head upon her, but then again, she didn't much like having eyes upon her at all. Not many folk took well to a half demon, her recent experience of being chased through a town and it's sewers by a demon hunter and his dragon friend was proof of that. But the Wood-kin's eyes had a certain calmness to them, and an ancient knowledge which made her think that maybe this creature had lived longer than even she. She stood behind the young elf, hpoing that the elf wouldn't take an agressive stance towards her. She was interested in the scene unfolding before her, but her real reason for staying was that she recognised the name, Kelsta, from a time long ago, when no part of her was human. A time which she could hardly remember, and a time she needed to find out about.

30. New face

    #30

    "My father he was.. once a demon slayer, he worked for the wood elf king Sherva, before he relised he was working under false pretences, he had befriended a male demon, but i can not remeber what he had said his name to be, the male demon had a daughter, his wife having died giving birth to the babe, i also was just a babe, my father had orders to burn down this entire forest with hords of demons living here, he had called upon one of the mighty wood-kin to look after me while we recked havoc on the wood-elf's kingdom only to find that he was an imposter that he had killed the real wood-elf king and had placed himself in the throne, my father had revealed this secret and for that he was killed in battle, he left me with the tree-kin, but it could not keep a look out for me, he had given me to a woman who had been searching for her lost child, the wood-kin had told the woman to look after me for i was going to help to avenge my father, and that i will remeber what i need to do when the time has come and the time is now, i am to meet a half-demon and also meet the wood-kin which had looked after me, while my father was killed, i just thought that, that wood-kin, was you but i apoligise if i was mistaken! and you demon there is no need to stay begind me, i am no threat to you" Callista waited for an answer from either the demon or the wood-kin.

31. New face

    #31

    The wood-kin brooded over this avalanche of information. He remembered the buring, the unclean spirits that had infested the forest. It was good that the sharp blades of man and elf found productive use in the felling of the unclean ones. The forest had burned, the sky rained ash.
    
    He had come the long trek from Deepening Gloom and had surveyed the ruin of the old forest. He had labored for many years, planting acorns and seeds, replanting the forest that had burned. The soil was dark, deep, and rich, the plants soon were raising verdant limbs to the heavens. He remembered standing in one place for days, swaying with the breeze, and the remembered songs of that which was lost.
    
    He remembered the infant, a small mewling thing still in the swaddling blanket. Kelsta...he remembered. The wood-kin could not provide for an elven babe, he could provide water, deep soil, and sunshine, but not the milk the babe needed. The widow of the croft had taken her and raised her, having lost her own child to the unknown. It was not long after that exchange that he had started entering the deep slumber.
    
    I remember...
    
    He stumbled with the quickling tongue, the disjointed words and hard sounds. The language of the wood-kin was a constant sound, a lullaby of soft creakings and groans, the rustle of leaves, and the flex of woodgrain.
    
    The-Hroom...widow of the Kaar-croft...raising you...before the Hroom...deep sleeping. Kel-Hroom-sta was...good.
    
    He turned his gaze from the elf he had carried many miles as a babe to look upon the features of the half-demon. There was a good number of creaks and pops as several branches curled inwards, others moving outward in a strange rippling.
    
    I will...Hroom...tolerate no missss-Haar-chief...from you...
    
    The wood-kin fixed Danu with his amber eyes, eyes that would consider the deeds of a demon as simple mischief.
    
    For now...be...Haar...welcome

32. New face

    #32

    Callista sighed a deep relieving sigh, but where did the half-breed and the halfling come into it she thought as she looked around trying to pinpoint the other two, Callista also looked up at the demon "please tell me your name and why do you come here today?" Callista awaited the demons reply
    
    OOC: Danu isn't going to be on very much so if this countinues on and see becomes a big part of this, then we will have to just go around her absences.

33. New face

    #33

    The girl woke up and stretched it had been a long jouney.She stood and looked to see the things that were going on around her. She seemed confused and obviously could not speak. She seemed stressed at the fact that there were others there speaking to her yet she had no way of communicating. She brought her knees to her chest sitting there looking at those around her scared she directed her eyes to her feet, still not speaking.

34. New face

    #34

    Callista looked with surprise at the newcomer, or even the one who had been there before all of them, Callista walked slowly almost cautiosly towards her "hello," she said in a hearty voice almost trusting her instintcs "I am Callista, i was just wondering how on earth did you just sleep through that racket?" Callista awaited an answer

35. New face

    #35

    Now the danger was over, the Halfling, clinging amongst the wood-kins branches, grinned. "Well, Isn't this just grand! It's like some kind of reunion!" The halfling Grinned widely at the ambered orbs before him, then scrambled between branches of the tree-man, almost losing his grip and falling, several times, but finally making his way to sit atop what he imagined to be the big creatures head. He peered down at the group, but it seemed he was already beginning to lose interest in them - The Halfling didnt have the largest of attention-spans, obviously. "Well, I'm Hamold Grandt, Son of Thimbus Grandt, at any rate. And who are you?" He knocked on the wood below him to indicate he was talking to the woodkin.

36. New face

    #36

    Redwick had been temporary stunned by first seeing a talking tree and then a person with wings coming down from the sky. But now he had regained his ability to speak again.
    
    "I'm Redwick Undersoor, half-dwarf explorer an' beer-drinker. I was just going trough these fields lookin' for any cities or villages nearby, 'cause I haven't been in civilized land for quite some time now."

37. New face

    #37

    "It's a pleasure to meet you mr undersoor, i wish to thankyou for your help back there, i couldn't of done it without you or the wood-kin! oh by the way what is your name wood-kin?"she asked turning her gaze slightly towards the wood-kin.

38. New face

    #38

    The wood-kin lifted the halfing off of the top of his head with several smaller branches, and deposited him on the ground next to the others who had woken him.
    
    Mr. Haar-Undersoooor...you are well....Hem...away from civilisation...Well away from towns, and...hem...axes.
    
    The wood-kin was surprised that anyone knew the name of his kind from old. Most men of the age knew his kind as ent, treesheperd, treekin. Close, but none correct. The question of his name gave the wood-kin pause, his name had not been asked for an age. Even Kelsta never inquired to his name.
    
    My name is...Haar-Hroom...Still Watcher...Hem...of Still Water. Among my own kind...Hem...I was simply...Hem...Eldest.
    
    The wood-kin of Deepening Gloom did call him oldest, but that was before he left their company, disliking the dark cast of their faces, and the malice that seeped from their roots, and fell from their crowns. He longed for the bright and clean forests, not the dark ones, comsumed with their own anger and hate. The gods would come down from the mountains one day and would dance for the trees again, but in time, long long time.

39. New face

    #39

    "then i shall call you watcher if that is ok with you?" Callista once again went into a low bow, and once again straightened up, she turned to the halfling "and you halfling, what be your name?" she stared into the eyes of the halfling, awaiting his answer, she had not meet to many of his kind lately, most halflings would not leave there towns, they were mostly shy folk but this one he seemed more curious than the rest, this was odd company for all i do believe she thought to herself, "there is a halfling, a wood-kin (tree of old), a half-breed, a half demon, and a man who seems to perfer to be out of this all, why do you just stand and watch man?" Callista asked looking towards the dark shape between the trees. "come forth and give us your name"

40. New face

    #40

    "Why, Hamold, of course!" Boasted the halfling, as though it were a badge of pride. He then shifted a hand forth to prod the woman in the belly, "Say... Weren't you a fish a moment ago?" At the mention of another man in the shadows, the halfling shifted his glance to peer within the darkness to discern the man standing in there. Hmph, of all his weeks in this forested place, he had met about three people. Now he had all these others!

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